Herbert I. Ordway (1852-1931) was born in Bradford, Massachusetts. He moved to Newton about 1879 and lived in this city for more than fifty years.

His daughter, Priscilla Ordway, lived on in the family home at 111 Gibbs Street until her death in 1971 at which time she bequeathed a half-acre section of the property to the Newton Conservators for park land. Located between the corners of Gibbs and Everett streets and Grant Avenue, this tiny park is an oasis of native trees and spring-flowering bushes. A stone marker identifies the sight and several paths provide access.

This gift reflected family interests in the natural environment as does a paper by Herbert Ordway entitled "Our Hills," which he read to his neighbors on March 5, 1888. In the paper he described the hills of Newton and the area, making observations about the landscape, trees and vegetation, and historic sites in the vicinity. Although this paper, which exists in its original manuscript form, exhibits some of the biases of the times, it also provides benchmarks by which changes in the local landscape can be measured.

Ordways interest in the natural environment is also be seen in photographs found else where in the Museums collections. These include views of his house and the land which is now the park, and views along the Charles River.

His 53 diaries, 1879-1931, form the bulk of the collection and provide details of family and business activities, his bout with tuberculosis, and walks and drives in the countryside.

No. of boxes: 1 flat box
Finding aids: No index to diaries

References:
Newton Conservators Newsletter, Winter (March 1986)